Alstroemeria plant named &#39;tessumred&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Tessumred’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance; strong stems; freely flowering habit; red-colored flowers with pale yellow-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TESSUMRED’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, typicallygrown as a potted and garden plant and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Tessumred’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new Alstroemeria plantswith numerous attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination inSeptember, 2010 of a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybridaidentified as code designation Zh4745a, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybridaidentified as code designation E1001, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selectedas a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inHeerhugowaard, The Netherlands in August, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since August, 2012 has shown that the unique featuresof this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Tessumred’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Tessumred’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeriaplant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Strong stems.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Red-colored flowers with pale yellow-colored centers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are more compact than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger flowers than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3 Plants of the new Alstroemeria have red-colored flowers with        pale yellow-colored centers whereas plants of the female parent        selection have red-colored flowers with white-colored centers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are more compact than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have smaller flowers than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have red-colored flowers with        pale yellow-colored centers whereas plants of the male parent        selection have yellow-colored flowers with yellow-colored        centers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of theAlstroemeria hybrida ‘Tesrobin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.19,345. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Alstroemeriadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Tesrobin’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1 Plants of the new Alstroemeria are taller than plants of        ‘Tesrobin’.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have red-colored flowers with        pale yellow-colored centers whereas plants of ‘Tesrobin’ have        red-colored flowers with red and white-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of typicalflowering plants of ‘Tessumred’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements were grown during the spring and summer in 24-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C.to 20° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 16° C. Plantsused in the photograph and description were three months old. Colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tessumred’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number Zh4745a, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number E1001, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By root divisions.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 30 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 40 days            at temperatures about 16° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fleshy; thin; typically white            in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.        -   Rhizome length.—About 19 cm.        -   Rhizome diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Rhizome texture.—Somewhat rugose, glabrous.        -   Rhizome color.—Close to 162D.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly            upright plant habit; overall shape, flattened globular to            broadly oblong; freely basal branching habit with about 38            primary lateral branches developing per plant; sturdy and            strong plants; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 36.5            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 45.6            cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 56.1 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to about 70° from vertical; average            is about 35° from vertical.        -   Length.—About 36.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous, waxy; matte.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 144C.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 144B slightly to strongly tinged            with close to between N186C and 200B; waxy cuticle, distally            close to 144D and proximally, close to N187D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single            whorl; simple.        -   Length.—About 6.6 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic; twisting.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Surface faces            downwards; close to between 138A and 139C. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Surface faces upwards; close to 143A.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Surface faces            downwards; close to between 147B and 191A; venation, close            to between 146B and 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Surface faces upwards; close to 137A; venation,            close to 137A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm by            6 mm. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to between            143B and 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 143B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers arranged            in terminal compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly            to slightly upright; perianth segments separate; freely            flowering habit with about ten flowers per inflorescence and            about 130 flowers per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight            weeks after planting; flowering continuous from late spring            into the summer in The Netherlands.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: Close to 53B to 53C; towards the base, close to 145C            to 145D; venation, close to 146A and 147A.        -   Umbel height.—About 11.8 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 14.8 cm.        -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—About 5.9 cm.        -   Flower length (vertical).—About 6.1 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 5.4 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner            perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 5.6 cm. Width,            lateral segments: About 1.5 cm. Length, median segment:            About 4.6 cm. Width, median segment: About 1.4 cm. Size,            outer perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 5 cm. Width,            lateral segments: About 2.3 cm. Length, median segment:            About 5.1 cm. Width, median segment: About 2.4 cm. Shape,            inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Oblanceolate.            Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median segments:            Obcordate. Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median            segments: Abruptly acute. Apex, outer perianth, lateral and            median segments: Emarginate. Base, inner perianth, lateral            and median segments: Narrowly cuneate. Base, outer perianth,            lateral and median segments: Long cuneate. Margin, inner and            outer perianths, lateral and median segments: Entire.            Texture and luster, inner and outer perianths, lateral and            median segments, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety;            matte. Texture and luster, inner and outer perianths,            lateral and median segments, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, inner perianth: When            opening, lateral segments, upper surface: Towards the apex,            close to between 47A and 53B; center, close to 6C; towards            the base, close to 52C; spots and stripes, close to between            N186C and 202A. When opening, median segment, upper surface:            Close to 50A; towards the base, close to 48B; stripes, close            to between N186C and 202A. When opening, lateral segments,            lower surface: Towards the apex, close to between 53B and            59C; center, close to 5C; towards the base, close to 54B and            53B to 53C; spots and stripes, close to 201B. When opening,            median segment, lower surface: Close to 51A; towards the            base, close to 51D; stripes, close to 201B to 201C. Fully            opened, lateral segments, upper surface: Towards the apex,            close to 47B; center, close to 4D; towards the base, close            to 55C to 55D; spots and stripes, close to between N186C and            202A; color does not change with development. Fully opened,            median segment, upper surface: Close to 47B; towards the            base, close to 48B; stripes, close to between 53A and N186C;            color does not change with development. Fully opened,            lateral segments, lower surface: Towards the apex, close to            58B; center, close to 4D to lighter than 4D; towards the            base, close to 53C; spots and stripes, close to 201B; color            does not change with development. Fully opened, median            segment, lower surface: Close to 53D; towards the base,            close to 54D; stripes, close to 201C to 201D; color does not            change with development. Color, outer perianth: When            opening, lateral and median segments, upper surface: Close            to 53C; towards the margins, close to 47B; at the apex,            close to 59B to 59C; towards the base, close to 54C. When            opening, lateral and median segments, lower surface: Close            to 53C to 53D; towards the base, close to 54B; at the apex,            close to 147B; venation, close to 143A to 143C. Fully            opened, lateral and median segments, upper surface: Close to            47A; towards the margins, close to 47C; at the apex, close            to 53B; towards the base, close to 48B; color does not            change with development. Fully opened, lateral and median            segments, lower surface: Close to 53C; towards the base,            close to 53D and 54B; at the apex, close to 147B; venation,            close to 152C to 152D; color does not change with            development.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Angle: About 10° from            stem axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Filament length: About 4 cm. Filament color: Close to 47D;            towards the base, close to 49C. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            size: About 9 mm by 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 42B. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 162A. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 cm. Style            length: About 3.6 cm. Style color: Close to 47B; towards the            base, close to 49C. Stigma diameter: About 8 mm. Stigma            shape: Tri-parted; parts, club-shaped, curved. Stigma color:            Close to 158D. Ovary color: Close to 146B.        -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development have            not been observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria.-   Pathogen & pest resistance:

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed to be resistant topathogens and pests common to Alstroemeria plants.

-   Garden performance:

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been observed to have good gardenperformance and to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to besuitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named‘Tessumred’ as illustrated and described.